-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- China rekindled memories of the 2008 Olympics with a spectacular opening ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on Friday .

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao formally began the event , which will be the largest in its 59-year history with 28 Olympic and 14 non-Olympic sports and 476 gold medals to be won .

China , which won a leading 166 golds at the previous competition in Qatar four years ago , has a delegation of 1,454 members including Olympic champion hurdler 110-meter hurdler Liu Xiang and badminton star Lin Dan .

He Chong , who won diving gold in Beijing , capped a massive fireworks display in the middle of the Pearl River on Haixinsha Island by ignited a giant flare to light the cauldron that houses the Asiad flame .

Afghanistan 's athletes were the first of the 45 nations taking part to parade , with China concluding the march with Olympic women 's rowing champion Jin Ziwei as flag bearer .

`` Remember , you are part of history right here , right now , '' Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah , of Kuwait , said in front of 30,000 people attending the ceremony .

`` Please show us your best performance , and show us the spirit of sportsmanship , fair play , friendship and respect to your fellow athletes and officials . ''

The event 's official website reported that Guangdong Province built and updated 70 stadiums for the competition , which runs until November 27 , and that 900,000 volunteers will be on hand .

It said since winning hosting rights in 2004 , Guangzhou officials have given out one million brochures and sent 40 million text messages to teach its citizens better manners , including instructions on how to smile .

This year , cricket , dance sports , dragon-boat racing , roller sports and Go chess will make their debut appearances in the competition .

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Chinese city of Guangzhou succeeds Doha as host of the 16th Asian Games

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Spectacular ceremony launches beginning of the 15-day competition

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China seeking to continue its winning run from four years ago with team of 1,454 members

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It will be the largest Games since the first in Delhi in 1951 with 476 gold medals on offer